Wednesday, May 11, 2011

There are some items from childhood that have the ability to stay with us well after we've grown up, aren't there?

Whether you have a music box collection, a bin of race cars, or books of baseball cards, there is just something about these items that are meaningful, memory-filled, and have a special place in your heart.

And, for many women and girls, young and old, there is nothing more touching than a beautiful handmade doll. Whether vintage or modern, traditional or unique, there is no better place to find a treasured doll to love than at Diamond Hill Dolls.

The home of the most amazing handcrafted dolls, Diamond Hill Dolls is the perfect site to visit for an individually-fashioned, one-of-a-kind creation that won't be seen elsewhere. Each doll is created separately and constructed from vintage fabrics, designer fabrics, recycled materials and haberdashery before showing up at your door in her own hand-tailored outfit.

I couldn't believe my eyes the first time I visited Diamond Hill Dolls and saw the wide variety of unique and gorgeous dolls. There are Clay Face Dolls that have a hand-sculpted face (made using a clay-over-cloth technique) that are then hand-painted and varnished...

...and there are Cloth Face Dolls that are needle-sculpted and embroidered, with each eye, nose, lash and more precisely stitched...

...and, the newest addition to the collection, there are Rag Dolls that have limbs hand-sewn to the body for a more robust, child-friendly result:

You can even have any of the above made as a Custom Doll that is completely created to your liking. Have one designed to look like just like you, a friend, or a family member - you can even send in special scraps of fabric or more to end up with a gift that will blow the socks off of your recipient.

And when a handmade Rag Doll from Diamond Hill Dolls arrived here all the way from London, I couldn't wait to see just how adorable she was in person. I had received an email preview when the doll was completed, so I had an idea of the look...

...so I was already extremely impressed. But, I have to admit, the pictures don't compare to seeing the quality and detailing of these dolls in person.

Her cute bag was even scented!

I have never owned a collectible doll before, so I hadn't really known what to expect... but, wow!

This Rag Doll is the perfect combination of delicate sweetness and sturdy construction that my daughters could actually play with her if they wanted to... assuming I would let them. The head is flat faced and cut all in one with the body, so there isn't a chance of it accidentally being knocked off and each limb is tightly attached so it would take much more than a hard tug to get them off.

The intricate facial features are so realistic and I love her thick brunette locks. The outfit, from the lacy collar all the way down to the ballet slipper shoes is girly, cute and the perfect colors to match her spot up on the shelf in our playroom.

Adorable! The amount of time, care, and love that went into making this doll is evident in every inch of her and the unique look of having her sitting out is a great addition to our decor.

Prices vary at Diamond Hill Dolls depending on the options and types but you can expect to pay more than what you would for a dime-a-dozen generic doll that you would find at your local retailer. However, I think it's fairly obvious that the result is also far from those that are mass-produced and end up in the bottom of a toy bin in a few weeks.

If you or someone you know is a fan of handmade, collectible dolls, you've definitely got to check out Diamond Hill Dolls. The superior craftsmanship and eye-catching results will have you browsing the gallery for quite a while!

(Other than the Rag Doll that I received from Diamond Hill Dolls to facilitate my review, I was not provided with anything or enticed to do this review in any way. This review is solely my opinion of this company and their amazing products.)